Life Sciences Commons^™

Changing Climate, Changing Business Practices : Lessons From Innovative Growers, David Gray, Nicole Baxter, Meredith Fairbanks, Geraldine Pasqual

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Climate change and increasing seasonal variability are challenging the production efforts of growers in lower rainfall environments of the Western Australian grain belt. Significantly less rainfall than the long-term average has fallen across southwest Western Australia during the past 30 years.

Seasonal rainfall has also become more variable with later starts to the growing season and a general shift to more summer and less winter rainfall. Day and night-time temperatures, particularly in winter and autumn, have gradually increased, while in some areas, the risk of frost in spring has increased.

Sheep Updates 2007 - Part 3, Andrew Ritchie, Edward Riggall, James Hall, Gus Rose, Johan Greeff, John Young, M. Alchin, M. Young, T. Johnson, John Lucy, Martin Staines, Tim Wiley, Rob Grima, Sandra Prosser, Matt Ryan, Geoff Moore, Tony Albertsen, Phil Barrett-Lennard, George Woolston, John Titerington, Sarah Knight, Brianna Peake

Sheep Updates

This session covers seven papers from different authors:

PROFITABILITY

1. Benchmarking demonstrates both the potential and realised productivity gains in the sheep and wool industry, Andrew Ritchie, Edward Riggall and James Hall, ICON Agriculture, Darkan

2. Improving sheep genetics will increase farm profitability, Gus Rose, Johan Greeff Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, John Young Farming Systems Analysis Service, WA

3. Meat, Merinos and making money in WA Pastoral Zone, M. Alchin, M. Young and T. Johnson, Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia,

GRAZING

4. Nitrogen - farmers' friend or foe? John Lucy and Martin Staines, Department …

Returns To Research And Development Investment Of Department Of Agriculture And Food Western Australia : Benefit Cost Analysis 2005-2006, Nazrul Islam, Francis Bright, Peter Coyle, Peter Eckersley, Louise Evans, Joseph Gaffy, Allan Herbert, Ross Kingwell, Emma Kopke, Peter Tozer

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Programs of the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia apply benefit-cost analysis to assist in the allocation of funds to those areas likely to make the largest contribution to the rural economy and thus to achieve the Department outcome of increased market competitiveness and profitability. To learn lessons from the completed projects the Programs also use ex post analyses. Information collected in the course of the ex post analyses can usefully improve the assessment of proposed projects.

Impact Of More Intensive Grazing On Nitrogen And Phosphorus In Shallow Aquifers Of The Southern Perth Basin, D L. Bennett, Patrick Donnelly, Peter J. Tille

Resource management technical reports

This study reports on the nutrient content, pH and salinity of groundwater samples collected from the watertable and within the Superficial and the upper Leederville Aquifers from the Southern Perth Basin, south of Pinjarra, Western Australia. Sampling was undertaken to determine the impact of intensification of broadscale grazing on groundwater nutrients in the area.

Evaluation Of The Sustainable Grazing On Saline Lands - Wa Producer Network : Influence On Practice Change And Decision-Making Capacity, Rebecca Heath, Jamie Bowyer, T M. Lacey

Resource management technical reports

No abstract provided.

Sheep Updates 2003 - Pastures, Ed Barrett-Lennard, Hayley Norman, Robyn Dynes, David Masters, David Henry, Stephen Gherardi, Graham Donald, Asoka Edirisinghe, Chris Oldham, Richard Smith, Joanne Sneddon, Mike Hyder, Andrew Thompson, Kazue Tanaka, Roy Latta, Chris Matthews, Brad Nutt, Angela Loi, Tim Wiley

Sheep Updates

This session covers seven papers from different authors: 1. Pastures for saline land, Ed Barrett-Lennard 1Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Hayley Norman, Robyn Dynes and David Masters CSIRO Livestock Industries, Centre for Mediterranean Agricultural Research, Floreat Park, 2. Feeding value - the essential link between pastures and animals CSIRO Livestock Industries, Centre for Environmental and Life Sciences 3. ‘Pastures from space’ - how do we do it, how well do we do it and what do producers think about it? Stephen Gherardi Department of Agriculture Western Australia Graham Donald Asoka Edirisinghe Dave Henry CSIRO Livestock Industries Chris Oldham Department of …

Crop Updates 2003 - Geraldton, David Stephens, James Fisher, Ian Edwards, Dennis Wise, Andrew Young, Robert Loughman, Ciara Beard, Greg Shea, Blakely Paynter, Roslyn Jettner, Kevin Young, Kevin Walden, Geoff Thomas, Robin Wilson, Iain Barclay, Robyn Mclean, Jenny Garlinge, Bill Lambe, Neil Venn, Peter Clarke, Martin Harries, Bob French, Wayne Parker, Murray Blyth, Peter Norris, Greg Lyle, Katheryn Steadman, Amanda Ellery, Sally C. Peltzer, Kari-Lee Falconer, Russell Speed, Terry Piper, Harmohinder Dhammu, Bindi Webb, Paul Blackwell, Phil Logue, Nigel Moffat, Rohan Ford, Miles Obst, Frances Hoyle, Leanne Schulz, Judith Devenish, Peter Newman, Grant Morrow, Ian Foster, Darshan Sharma, Marnie Thomas, Graham Walton, Hasan Zaheer, Paul Carmody, Mike Clarke, Paul Raper

Crop Updates

This session covers twenty eight papers from different authors

1. Seasonal Outlook: What is in store for 2003, David Stephens, Department of Agriculture

2. Examining The Management Options For Wheat Crops In The Coming Season, James Fisher, Department of Agriculture

3. GMO’s – what do they offer? Ian Edwards, Grain Bio Tech Australia Pty Ltd

4. The Big Gamble – Wheat prices for 2003, Dennis Wise, Profarmer

5. Market outlook for other grains, Andrew Young, General Manager Agricorp

6. Stripe rust – where to now for the WA wheat industry? Robert Loughman, Ciara Beard and Greg Shea, Department of Agriculture

7. Baudin …

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Guidelines For Management Of Farmland Adjacent To The Busselton Wetlands, William Oldfield, Department Of Conservation And Land Management, Department Of Planning And Infrastructure

Bulletins 4000 -

The Busselton Wetlands are a chain of wetlands that lie parallel with the coastline of Geographe Bay, Western Australia and in close proximity to the town of Busselton. The main issues for the maintenance of quality of the wetlands are nutrient levels and habitat value. This guide outlines many of the current best practices related to farming around wetlands.

Crop Updates 2002 - Geraldton, Steve Penny Jr, Robin Wilson, Iian Barclay, Robyn Mclean, Robert Loughman, Jenny Garlinge, Bill Lambe, Neil Venn, Peter Clarke, Wal Anderson, Raffaele De Cima, James Bee, Darshan Sharma, Sheena Lyon, Melaine Kupsch, Mohammad Amjad, Pam Burgess, Veronika Reck, Brenda Shackley, Ray Tugwell, Bindi Webb, Robert Park, Daya Patabendige, Phil Michael, Debbie Thackray, Jenny Hawkes, Roger Jones, David Stephens, Bob French, Laurie Wahlsten, Glen Riethmuller, M. Bolland, P. White, T. Khan, Kevin Walden, Ravjit Khangura, Martin J. Barbetti, Graham Walton, Françoise Berlandier, Paul Carmody, Christiaan Valentine, Roy Latter, Keith Devenish, Bill Bowden, Michael O'Connell, Chris Gazey, David Gartner, Caroline Peek, David Rogers, Greg Shea, George Yan, Alexandra Douglas, Sally Peltzer, Paul Matson, David Minkey, Clinton Revell, Giles Glasson, Dean Thomas, Aik Cheam, Siew Lee, Mike Clarke, Peter Newman, Glenn Adam

Crop Updates

This session covers twenty seven papers from different authors:

1. Taking the Why out of Wyalkatchem – the new widely adapted wheat variety, Steve Penny Jr, Department of Agriculture

2. Future wheat varieties, Robin Wilson, Iain Barclay,Robyn McLean, Robert Loughman, Jenny Garlinge, Bill Lambe, Neil Venn and Peter Clarke

Department of Agriculture

3. Maximising wheat variety performance through agronomic management, Wal Anderson, Raffaele Del Cima, James Bee, Darshan Sharma, Sheena Lyon, Melaine Kupsch, Mohammad Amjad, Pam Burgess, Veronika Reck, Brenda Shackley, Ray Tugwell, Bindi Webb and Steve Penny Jr

Department of Agriculture

4. Cereal rust update 2002 – …

Crop Updates 2002 - Weeds, Vanessa Stewart, Peter Newman, Glenn Adam, Andrew Blake, Natalie Lauritsen, Sally Peltzer, Paul Matson, Nerys Wilkins, David Minkey, Glen Riethmuller, Tim Cusack, Kathryn Steadman, Pippa Michael, Paul Blackwell, Dave Brindal, Michael Walsh, Wayne Parker, Clinton Revell, Giles Glasson, Dean Thomas, Alister Draper, Bill Roy, Marta Monjardin, David Pannell, Stephen Powles, Robert Barrett-Lennard, Martin Bent, Paul Neve, Art Diggle, Patrick Smith, Mechelle Owen, Abul Hashem, Christopher Preston, Tracey Gillam, Rick Llewellyn, Richard Quinlan, Aik Cheam, Siew Lee, Mike Clarke, David Nicholson, Harmoohinder S. Dhammu, Terry Piper, Chad Sayer, Ian Rose, Andrew Blake, Jerome Critch, Gordon R. Cumming, Sam Taylor, John Moore, Rosyln Jettner, Stuart Bee, Lionel Martin, Keith Devenish, Felicity Flugge, Amir Abadi, Duncan Peter, Stuart Mcalpine

Crop Updates

This session covers fifty eight papers from different authors:

1. INTRODUCTION Vanessa Stewart, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

INTEGRATED WEED MANAGEMENT

IWM system studies / demonstration sites

2. Major outcomes from IWM demonstration sites, Alexandra Douglas Department of Agriculture

3. Integrated weed management: Katanning, Alexandra Douglas Department of Agriculture

4. Integrated weed management: Merredin, Vanessa Stewart Department of Agriculture

5. Long term resistance site: Get ryegrass numbers low and keep them low! Peter Newman and Glen Adams Department of Agriculture

6. Using pastures to manage ryegrass populations, Andrew Blake and Natalie Lauritsen Department of Agriculture

Weed biology and competition

7. …

Crop Updates 2002 - Farming Systems, Peter Metcalf, Mike Ewing, Roy Latta, Keith Devenish, Diana Fedorenko, Clayton Butterly, Chantelle Butterly, Kim Diamond, Neil Diamond, Stuart Mcalpine, Bill Bowden, Jessica Johns, Terry Piper, David Bowran, Robert Beard, Phil Ward, Dominie Wright, Nichole Burges, Roger Jones, Danae Harman, Greg Shea, George Yan, David Tennant, David Hall, Anyou Liu, Clinton Revell, Candy Hudson, Andrew Blake, Natalie Lauritsen, John Fosu-Nyarko, Roger Jones, Lisa Smith, Mike Jones, Geoff Dwyer, Bill Bowden, Michael O'Connell, Chris Gazey, David Gartner, Amanda Miller, Richard W. Bell, K. Frost, Mike Wong, Ross Brennan, N. J. Blake, G. Mconnell, D. Patabendige, N. Venn, Derk Bakker, Greg Hamilton, Dave Houlbrooke, Cliff Spann, Paul Blackwell, Bindi Webb, G. Lyle, K. Wittwer, Perry Dolling, Senthold Asseng, Ian Fillery, Michael Robertson, Caroline Peek, David Rogers, Peter Portman, Jeff Russell, Greg Shea, Ben Henderson, Ross Kingwell, Tresslyn Walmsley, Jean Galloway, Debbie Thackray, Moin Salam, Art Diggle, William J. Macleod, Jenny Hawkes

Crop Updates

This session covers forty one papers from different authors:

INTRODUCTION

1. Future Farming Systems session for Crop Updates 2002 Peter Metcalf, FARMING SYSTEMS SUBPROGRAM MANAGER GRAINS PROGRAM Department of Agriculture

2. Perennial pastures in annual cropping systems: Lucerne and beyond, the ‘Big Picture’, Mike Ewing, Deputy CEO CRC for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity, Department of Agriculture

3. Perennial pastures in annual cropping systems: lucerne and beyond, Roy Latta and Keith Devenish, Department of Agriculture

4. Establishing Lucerne with a cover crop, Diana Fedorenko¹, Clayton Butterly¹, Chantelle Butterly¹, Kim and Neil Diamond^{2 …}

The Good Food Guide For Sheep : Feeding Sheep For Meat Production In The Areas Of Western Australia, Keith Croker, Peter Watt, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

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The Good Food Guide for Sheep has been produced to provide Western Australian farmers with a concise compilation of current information on feeding sheep for meat production. Although there are already numerous publications about sheep nutrition,many of them relate to wool production, reproduction or drought feeding, or they concentrate on particular feeds or feeding systems.

This book contains information on a wide range of feeds and feeding methods. Just as there is no single ‘best’ sheep breed for meat production, there is no ultimate feed regime for sheep for growth.

Profit From Pastures, Mark Callow, Martin Van Houtert

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The research program has made a major contribution to the improvement of pasture management techniques, which has, in turn, led to a gain in productivity for dairy farms in the south-west of Western Australia. Analysis has shown a 25 per cent improvement in pasture utilisation, an increase in the average number of cows milked from 155 to 192, an increase in average stocking rates from 0.9 to 1.2 cows per hectare, and increased income from milk sales by $600 per hectare. There are still areas for improvement in sustainability, productivity, and profitability, but the success to date is a credit …

Total Grazing Management : Results And Observations From The Pimbee Station Trial, Damien Pearce, Geoff Elliott, Robert Rouda

Agriculture reports

The major aim of the trial was to assess the effectiveness of permanent trapyards as a system for managing total grazing pressure. Permanent trapyards potentially offer a cost-effective system of controlling domestic stock, feral goats and kangaroos.

Images 2.1 : An Integrated Model Of An Arid Grazing System, Z G. Yan, K M. Wang

Resource management technical reports

The name IMAGES stands for An Integrated Model of an Arid Grazing Ecological System. The model was initiated by Dr R. Hacker in 1987-8 as an activity to (1) evaluate alternative management strategies and (2) identify key ecological processes and research priorities in shrub rangelands of Western Australia. Version 1 of the model was published in Agriculture Systems in 1991 (Hacker et al. 1991) and here after will be referred to as IMAGES 1. IMAGES 1 is a vegetation model, capable of predicting the prob ility of recruitment and mortality of the desirable species in a given vegetation type under …

Pilbara Steer Growth Evaluation : 1994 - 1996, Wayne Fletcher, Brian Mcintyre, Shane Cridland Dr, J L. James

Agriculture reports

Growth potential of steers in the Pilbara - a summary. The trial was conducted over a range of conditions on three locations. The pasture type at Wyloo, the Ashburton River frontage, which is regarded as one of the most productive pasture types in the area, combined with conservative stocking, a fresh paddock and excellent seasonal conditions during 1995, gives us an indication of the District's potential. In extrapolating any of these data to other cases, consideration must be given to adjustment base

Land Capability Assessment For The Wellington-Blackwood Survey, Peter J. Tille

Resource management technical reports

This report has been produced to provide more detail on the land capability assessments presented in the Wellington-Blackwood Land Resources Survey (Tille 1996). In that report, the land capability of each of the soil-landscape subsystems has been summarised with a brief description. Capability ratings are provided here for each of the map units (including subsystem phases) which appear on the two map sheets (Tille et al. 1996) accompanying the Wellington-Blackwood Land Resources Survey.

How Sustainable Is Grazing Sheep On Annual Pastures In The Woolbelt?, Don Mcfarlane, Richard George

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Low wool prices have reduced the profitability of producing wool from clover-based annual pastures in the south-western woo/belt. The heavy reliance on one commodity is economically unsustainable for many farmers. But we should also consider how ecologically sustainable the practice is.

Shallow-rooted annual pastures contribute to widespread salinity in the area, annual legumes are acidifying the soils and making them water repellent, and bare, detached soils from heavy grazing cause sheet and rill erosion during autumn storms. In addition, stock are degrading remnant vegetation and destroying the soil's structure.

To counteract this degradation, the woo/belt needs more perennial pastures and …

Trees And Livestock : A Productive Co-Existence, Richard Moore

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Trees, as part of farming can help to combat land degradation problems and produce a good economic return from timber at the same time. For example, there is now clear evidence that planting trees can help combat salinity by lowering water-table levels. Trees can also substantially improve overall farm productivity by providing shelter for pastures and livestock. The challenge is to find practical and economical methods of integrating trees and farming. A combination of widely-spaced trees and livestock is one promising method. This article describes the benefits of this type of agroforestry to farmers, suitable locations and how to practice …

Erosion Potential Of Phomopsis-Resistant Lupins, D J. Carter, Paul Findlater

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

During lupin harvesting, up to 20 per cent of the grain remains on the ground. This non-harvested or pilt grain is a valuable feed for sheep during early summer because the pods, leaf and stem generally provide little nutrient in the stubnbles. In addition, the more efficient the weed control, the less valuable are the stubbles.

The disease lupinosis caused by Phomopsis leptostromiformis restricts the amount of grazing from the lupin stubbles, and hence the risk of wind-erosion of stubble paddocks.

However, the introduction of lupin varieties moderately resistant to Phomopsis and with reduced potential to cause lupinosis means that …

The Sandplain Lupin : Its Nutritional Value And Grazing Management, P W. Morcombe

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The sandplain lupin or Western Australian blue lupin (Lupinus cosentinii) was introduced to the West Midlands at the turn of the last century. Since that time it has been used as a self-regenerating summer forage for sheep and cattle.

Being deep rooted, it has adapted well to the sandy soils from Perth to Northampton, and plantings now cover more than 100,000 ha.

As few other improved pasture species will persist on these deep sands the sandplain lupin provides an important source of summer feed for grazing livestock. A stand can be grazed throughout summer at stocking rates of 10 to …

Serena And Circle Valley Medic Establishment, M A B Ewing

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Since the commercial release of the burr medics Serens in 1983, and Circle Valley ayearlater, much has been learnt about the establishment and management of these pasture legumes. When sown on suitable soils and with appropriate establishment and management techniques, these medics have the potential to dramatically change farm profitability. This results from both increased production from livestock and from improved cereal crops grown in rotation.

Producing 20-Month Old Beef Steers Off Annual Pasture, K D. Greathead, D. J. Barker, W. J. Ryan

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A recent Mt Barker experiment compared two systems of fodder conservation with continuous grazing, using two types of steers, at three stocking rates. Year-round performance, carcass composition, and resulting costs and returns per hectare were assessed.

Production per hectare was greatest from crossbred steers at the intermediate stocking rate with either type of fodder conservation.

Spray-Graze : The Answer To Weeds In Pastures, Geoffrey A. Pearce

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

W.A. Department of Agriculture research leads to a new technique for weed control in pastures.

The trials which led to the development of the spray-graze technique of weed control started in Western Australia in 1966.

Since 1969, spray-graze has been tried in other States of Australia and is now recognised as the most practical method of controlling many pasture weeds.

Lupins In Western Australia. 5. The Grazing Value Of Green And Mature Lupins, John Sylvester Gladstones

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

WHETHER or not lupins are grown primarily as a grain crop, grazing of standing crops and harvested stubbles will continue to be an important use. This article examines the uses of sweet lupins for forage, and the main problem of lupin grazing, lupinosis.

Deferred Grazing Improves Soft Spinifex Association, H Suijdendorp

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE Pastoral region in Western Australia where Triodia pungens (soft spinifex) makes up most of the vegetation, covers an area of about 17,000 square miles in the Forrest and De Grey pastoral areas.

On the deeper granitic sands in much of the region, plant associations revert to a pure stand of soft spinifex after about five or six years' grazing. It is common practice to burn at this stage, to encourage the re-establishment of other species and the production of palatable spinifex regrowth.

Continuous Grazing On Rose Clover At Northampton, R J. Parkin

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

BECAUSE of its upright growth habit, it is often thought that rose clover may require some form of specialised grazing management.

It has also been said that the sheep find the plant and in particular the seed head, undesirable in the dry stages.

However, more recent observations refute this (Bailey 1966). The present commonly-grown strains of rose clover are later flowering generally than the medics or Geraldton subterranean clover and stay green later in the season.

Saltland Notes : Don't Put Sheep In Yet, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

If you have sown bluebush or saltbush this year, keep the sheep out.

Grazing To Control Pasture Composition, R A. Bettenay

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

APART from grazing management, there are a number of means by which the farmer can influence pasture composition.

With the exception of grazing, all of these processes involve recurring costs, so it is important to exert the utmost possible control through the grazing animal.

A Grazing Management Trial For The Control Of Lupinosis In Sheep, H G. Neil, C. M. Ralph, A. W. Hogstrom

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A "WASTING" disease of sheep grazing on lupin stands, usually accompanied by heavy mortality, has become a serious problem in coastal areas between Perth and Geraldton in the past ten years.